These old-fashioned fried apples are buttery, sweet, and cinnamon-spiced. The perfect quick side dish or dessert for any Southern meal!
A warm skillet of fried apples is the kind of simple comfort food that brings back the best memories, like Sunday suppers, Cracker Barrel dinners, or Grandma’s farmhouse kitchen. With just a handful of pantry staples, they’re ready in 15 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights and holiday tables alike.
Old-Fashioned Fried Apples Just Like Grandma Made
September and October are the height of apple season here in Central Virginia, so the fruit makes an appearance at almost every meal. After a day of apple picking, I’ll take any excuse to enjoy fried apples in a buttery cinnamon sauce. Treat them as a side dish alongside fried catfish, crock pot chicken pot pie, chicken pot pie with biscuits, old fashioned chicken pot pie, cream of mushroom pork chops, smothered pork chops, or pork chops and applesauce, offer them at breakfast with baked pancakes, or serve them for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Again…apples…all day, every day!
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- The Best Apples to Fry: Granny Smith apples are our preference, since their tartness balances the sweetness and they hold their shape well. Peel, core, and slice into even wedges so they cook evenly.
- Butter: Adds rich flavor and creates the syrupy sauce. I use salted butter, but unsalted butter is fine if that’s your preference.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar keeps it classic, but you can use light brown sugar for a deeper caramel note.
- Cinnamon and Salt: Warm spice + a touch of salt enhances the flavor balance.
- Cornstarch Slurry: Optional, but it thickens the sauce to coat the apples beautifully.
- Tip: Don’t overcook the apples. They should be tender but not mushy, with a little bite left in the center.
…it was quick and easy. And so good, I thought I was in heaven…
– Lillian
How to Make Fried Apples
These simple skillet apples only require a handful of pantry staples — and they taste just like the fried apples that you love from Cracker Barrel!
- Peel, core, and slice the apples.
- Make the glaze by stirring together melted butter, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the apples to the pan and cook just until they’re tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Add a cornstarch slurry during the final few minutes to thicken the glaze so that it coats the apples.
- Enjoy immediately or store for a later meal!
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Fried Apples
Equipment
- large cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Cornstarch slurry: 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch combined with 1 ½ teaspoons cold water
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice the apples. Set aside.
- Melt the butter over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and salt; stir to combine. Add the apples and cook, stirring regularly, until just tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- For a thicker sauce that clings to the apples, stir in the cornstarch slurry during the final 2-3 minutes.
- Be careful not to overcook the apples. They should be tender but not mushy, with a little bite left in the center. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Different Apple Varieties: While we prefer Granny Smith apples here, you can also use another firm baking variety — including Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Fuji, or Pink Lady. Or try a combination of your favorites!
- Oven Method: For a simple dish that bakes in the oven, try these baked apple slices.
- Brown Sugar Fried Apples: Swap white sugar for brown for a richer flavor.
- Add Nutmeg or Cloves: A pinch of extra spice adds holiday warmth. An apple pie spice blend would also be great.
- Bourbon Fried Apples: Add a splash of bourbon at the end for a grown-up twist.
- Cranberry Apple Skillet: Stir in a handful of fresh or dried cranberries with the apples.
- Add Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a bright, acidic note and brings out the natural flavor of the apples.
Serving Suggestions
Cracker Barrel fried apples are surprisingly versatile! Serve them alongside stuffed pork chops, pan fried pork chops, pork chop and rice casserole, chicken and stuffing casserole, Bisquick chicken and dumplings, chicken and biscuits, biscuits and gravy, roast chicken and vegetables, stuffed pepper soup, johnny marzetti, or a bourbon glazed ham. Offer them on a holiday table with grilled beef tenderloin or maple-glazed roasted turkey breast. They’re also great with flaky biscuits or Bisquick waffles, as a side with baked apple cider donuts, and on top of vanilla ice cream, cream cheese pound cake, and oatmeal. Or, alongside cinnamon roll casserole or French toast casserole.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: Cook and refrigerate, then gently reheat in a skillet before serving.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer-Friendly: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To Reheat: Warm in a skillet over low heat or microwave in short intervals, stirring occasionally.
More Easy Apple Recipes
Mom’s Easy Apple Pie
3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Apple Snickers Salad
1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Easy Apple Cobbler
1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Originally published in September, 2017, this post was updated in August, 2025.
Hey, Teresa! They’re from a boxed mix! 🙂 I think that she may have added extra chocolate chips to the batter, though. And sprinkle the top liberally with powdered sugar once they cool!
Love the pictures and the stories that you tell with your post while sharing a wonderful. Hope to see more like this from you.
Thank you, Karl!
Hey, Stine! Thanks for your note, and I’m so glad that you’re going to try the healthy slow cooker recipes!
I used to have a “Skip to Recipe” button on my blog, but it wasn’t compatible with a site upgrade that I made to my recipe cards. I wasn’t able to figure out how to get a new one set up, but it’s on my “To Do List” when I hire a programmer to fix a few things. Thanks for that feedback!
Hey, Kendall! Yep — there was a lot of Monopoly playing this weekend! 🙂 Hope the weather clears up for you this week. Thanks so much for reading the blog!
wow this turned out to be super delicious. The taste was perfect, the shape and smell was mouth watering. Thanks for sharing
Hi, Janet! I just double-checked and it’s there! 🙂 If you look just below the long image of the Fried Apples (with the text on it) you should see the full printable recipe card.
To make it really fast, try clicking on the green “Jump to Recipe” button at the very top of my post. It will take you right to the recipe box and will skip over everything else.
7I love fried apples,and have made them one other time. But couldn’t find the recipe so I found this one,it was quick and easy. And soon good,I thought I was in heaven. Thanks for sharing. Will be trying more of your recipes.
Wonderful! Thanks, Lillian!
One of my husband’s favorite meals that he grew up with is fried apples, sausage, ( regular breakfast sausage) and spoon bread ( or his family called it batter bread). Yoder’s has an excellent spoon bread mix. You just add water. Stir. And bake. If you haven’t tried it, buy a package.
That sounds like a delicious meal, Debbie! I’m adding that to my meal plan in the coming weeks! 🙂 I’ve seen the spoon bread mix at Yoder’s, but I’ve never tried it. Good to know it’s an easy shortcut. I’ve just always made my own spoon bread recipe — but I’m a fan of a good mix, too!
I love that you include “life expectancy” info. I hate to throw out food!
Thanks, Mary! I’m glad that you find that helpful! 🙂
I’ve been craving fried apples! I made mine like my Grandma used to make hers…she used salt pork instead of butter. She fried pieces of salt pork til it rendered then added apples, some sugar and cinnamon. No quantities or anything like that it was “off the cuff” cooking! It was tough to pin her down on measurements. “Til it looks or tastes right”!
Fried apples are SO good! I bet the salt pork version is equally delicious!